Huskers Celebrate at End of the Year Banquet

Lincoln, Neb. --- The Nebraska women's gymnastics team presented player awards and celebrated a successful 2004 season Saturday evening at the team’s season-ending banquet at the Memorial Stadium Skyboxes. Among the awards given were: Newcomer of the Year to Kristi Esposito, Most Improved Gymnast of the Year to Stephanie Carter and the the Most Valuable Gymnast of the Year to Libby Landgraf.

Head Coach Dan Kendig honored each class for their hard work and dedication. including the senior class who won three straight Big 12 Championship titles, three straight regional titles and made three straight trips to the NCAA Super Six Finals. Altogether, they garnered 12 All-American awards and played significant roles as the Huskers went into their post season competition.

Landgraf was named the team’s MVP by her teammates after leading the Huskers this season.  The Fort Collins, Colo. native was a six-time All-American at Nebraska, who earned first-team All-America honors on the uneven bars for the first time in her collegiate career at the 2004 NCAA Championships, while adding second-team All-America honors on the vault (9.875).  She set a career-high of 39.65 against Iowa State, March 14, while capturing eight titles during the regular season including two all-around titles, one vault title, two uneven bars titles and three floor exercise titles.  She was also the first collegiate woman to perform and execute a three-and-a-half twist in her floor exercise routine.  At the Big 12 Championships, Landgraf led the Huskers, finishing in fourth place in the all-around (39.40). She took All-Big 12 honors in the all-around and on the vault (9.85).

Landgraf was also honored by the Booster Club with the John Hawkinson award.  The award is given to an individual who exemplifies three criteria, including academic ability, athletic accomplishments and leadership. 

Esposito earned Newcomer of the Year. The freshman from Slidell, La., competed in every meet for the Huskers this season. She earned first-team All-America honors on the balance beam and in the all-around, while capturing third place on the balance beam at the 2004 NCAA Event Finals.  At the NCAA Southeast Regional, Esposito led the Huskers in the all-around, finishing in fourth place (39.425) and tying for second place on the floor exercise (9.90).  She was also the Big 12 Uneven Bars Champion.  Esposito captured seven individual titles during the regular season. She owns three individual all-around titles, one vault title, one balance beam title and two uneven bars titles.

Carter was named the Most Improved Gymnast by her peers.  The Bryn Athyn, Pa. native competed on three events for NU, including the vault, the balance beam and the floor exercise. In 12 of the Huskers’ 13 meets this season, Carter scored 9.800 or higher on the vault, including a career high of 9.925 against Iowa State, March 14. At the NCAA Southeast Regional, Carter scored a 9.90 on the vault to tie for fourth place. On the balance beam, Carter’s consistency carried over, as she has scored 9.80 and higher in eight of the 13 meets. She earned scores of 9.80 or higher in five of the last 10 meets on the floor exercise, including a career-high 9.875 at Big 12 Championships.

The Booster Club also honored senior Tiffany Byrd for her outstanding attitude and dedication to the sport of gymnastics.  Although injuries limited Byrd in 2004, she continued to be an inspiration to her team and others. She competed in two of the Huskers first meets, including Michigan and Utah. Against Michigan, Byrd put up solid scores for NU, scoring a 9.850 on the bars and 9.775 on the beam. At Utah, the Orlando, Fla. native competed again on the bars and beam, scoring a 9.150 and 9.850, respectively in each event. Byrd owns career-highs of 9.875 on the vault, 9.900 on both the uneven bars and the balance beam, a career-high 9.950 on the floor exercise and a career-high 39.325 in the all-around.